Blanket Fort

I spent the last two mornings recording trumpet and voice overdubs in a home studio. We had the mic set up in a closet with blankets and cushions all around for baffling. It reminded me of being a kid, when I would hide out in blanket forts to escape my ...

Reading About Yourself on the Internet

I realize this is just a part of modern life, not something unique to musicians, but I read about myself on the Avant-Garde Bar site and thought, "Huh, I don't remember writing that bio!" I probably did, mind you, it might have been several years ago. I feel the ...

More Recording

So, almost a year after recording the voice and piano parts, I'm finally doing overdubs! Listening to some rough mixes of my songs with cello accompaniment now. It sounds good. I'm a little worried about being trendy (or worse, having missed the trend) but whatever. Maybe I'll do my NEXT ...

May 8

I have a show coming up at Avant Garde Bar on May 8 with Shawn Donnelly and Gillian Kirkland. I have been corresponding with Gillian for a while now, and we finally met yesterday. What an unassuming, yet well-connected and talented person! It will be nice to reconnect ...

Discount Bin

Since the new album is in the works, I thought I'd offer a discount on the old one. Physical copies will be $12 by mail or $10 in person. BUT! You can now pay as little as $7 by buying a digital copy through Bandcamp. You're welcome. (The new ...

Trumpet

When asked, I will say my main instruments are voice and piano. If pressed, I will add that I play trumpet and recorder - poorly. Yesterday I got my trumpet repaired and played through a few duets (trumpet-playing runs in the family) and remembered how much I love this instrument. ...

Outsider Art

I've been soliciting feedback on my upcoming album, and one of the most interesting responses so far has been from a reader/musician/friend (who can comment if he wants to be named): "I was left with the feeling that your record was a celebration of the Craft and femininity and power ...

Great Ideas from Other Blogs

I don't have any bright ideas today, so I thought I'd share some blog posts that have got me thinking about being a musician. The first is a post by Heather Dale called "The Finishing Room." Long story short: stop dreaming, start doing. No one cares what's in your ...

The Recording Process

I've been thinkg about how the process of recording my second album was different from recording the first. As We Sadden Each Other to Sleep was recorded at a professional studio in the Mile End district of Montreal. I guess I was going for the full hipster experience. This time ...

badge of honour

At CAN-CON on Saturday, I was given a nametag. I decided to take it off while performing, because it didn't match my outfit. Later that night, the Chair of the conference came up and handed me my badge. "I won't ask how this ended up in the men's washroom," he ...

CAN CON details

Here are a few more details about Saturday's show. It will be at 9 p.m. at the BEST WESTERN PLUS Ottawa/Kanata Hotel & Conference Centre at 1876 Robertson Road. If you want to come especially for the show, you can get an evening pass from 8:30 onwards for $15 ($10 ...

Two Things I've Never Done Before

1) open for a burlesque show 2) perform at a science fiction convention But on September 22, I will do both at the same time!!! I am pretty excited to go to a con again... it's been years. I'm not really fannish, but I like costumes and art and weirdos. ...

a call to arms

Like a lot of children, I was fascinated by wizards and witches, and they are the inspiration for the first song on the upcoming album. This "call to arms" invites peaceful warriors to pick up magic wands or flying broomsticks instead of weapons. I was also thinking about the witch's ...

rough mixes

I've been listening to the rough mixes from my recording session back in May, and am basically happy with how they sound. Now I'm collecting constructive feedback from friends, a first step in letting go and CD "release." Speaking of letting go, you may have noticed that this entry is ...

live recording session